Cincinnati transfer QB Brendan Sorsby probably isn't the best option for the Tennessee Vols
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The Tennessee Vols are expected to be in the market for a transfer quarterback when the portal opens on January 2.
That could change, however, depending on whether Joey Aguilar is granted an additional year of eligibility.
But for now, the general feeling is that Aguilar will move on after the season. Additionally, the expectation is that redshirt freshman quarterback Jake Merklinger will enter the transfer portal (Merklinger, though, hasn’t announced a decision yet).
Update: Merklinger is officially entering the portal.
In that scenario, the Vols would be left with just true freshman George MacIntyre and incoming five-star signee Faizon Brandon as the only scholarship quarterbacks on the roster.
Nearly everyone seems to agree that going into the 2026 season with two inexperienced quarterbacks, albeit extremely talented, isn’t a wise idea.
The top quarterback in the transfer portal may not be the best option for Tennessee
Cincinnati Bearcats transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby is the top quarterback in the transfer portal.
Sorsby’s family reportedly lives in Knoxville, which has led to the quarterback being linked to Tennessee. There’s also the comments that Sorbsy made last summer about Neyland Stadium.
“I’d say Tennessee,” said Sorsby at Big 12 media days when asked where he’d most like to play a road game. “I got to go to a couple of games growing up. Really cool atmosphere. It would be a fun place to play for sure. Big stadium, usually sold out.”
Sorbsy, however, may not be a smart transfer option for the Vols. And it’s not because of fit — though that’s also something Tennessee would need to consider (a good fit on paper doesn’t always equal a good fit in real life). Instead, it’s because of money.
The Cincinnati transfer is already receiving NIL offers worth north of $4 million for the 2026 season. Given that the portal hasn’t even opened yet, that number will probably increase as bidding wars start. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Sorbsy ends up getting close to $5 million.
Now, I know there will be fans who will say that Tennessee should spend as much money as it takes to field a championship roster. I don’t necessarily disagree. But the Vols have to be smart, too. Tennessee is likely going to have to spend quite a bit on transfers this offseason as they plug roster holes — specifically on the defensive side of the ball.
Would be it wise for Tennessee to allocate $5 million to a quarterback when they also need multiple defensive linemen, multiple safeties, a cornerback (at least one for added depth), a linebacker, possibly an offensive tackle, and probably a running back?
I don’t know how much Tennessee plans to spend on its roster in 2026. But even if we estimate a high number — something like $30 million — then giving $5 million to Sorbsy would mean tying up 17 percent of your allocated roster funds to one player. If you add in what Tennessee is paying MacIntyre and Brandon — which is unknown, but let’s just say it’s a combined $3 million (which may be low) — then you’re looking at 27 percent of the Vols’ roster funds going to the quarterback position. Maybe that’s doable for Tennessee, but I think it would give the Vols significantly less flexibility to improve other parts of its roster.
There’s no doubt that Tennessee needs a playmaker at quarterback. But I don’t think they have to spend $5 million on one player at that position to put an elite offense on the field (the Vols had the No. 7 offense in the nation in 2025 with a quarterback that earned around $1.2 million).
Ultimately, Vols head coach Josh Heupel and his staff will have to make a decision on what they want to do at the quarterback position. I just don’t know if they’re going to feel good about the idea of committing that much cash to one position in 2026.
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This story was originally published by A to Z Sports on Dec 17, 2025, where it first appeared in the Nashville section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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